AVIATION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 180, 19 July 1930, Page 2

AVIATION

The Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club is now in the fortunate position of having a flight of machines in commission, enabling members to receive all the instruction they need. It was not so during the first 18 months of the club’s history, when the ZK—AAB was our only machine, and which did practically the work of two. Active members many times had the keen disappointment of having to return home without getting a look-in, on perhaps the only day they could manage to get to the ’drome.

There appears to be a scarcity of good pilot instructors just now in the Dominion, and if any of the clubs now operating happen to lose their instructor, it is a hard job to replace him.

• » • The “De Souter’ monoplane, a privately owned machine imported by Mr Geo. Nicholls, of Gisborne, will shortly arrive in Hastings. It will be noted that this machine is of the same type as that in which FlyingOfficers Piper and Kaye flew from England to Australia. A special hangar has been erected at the Hastings aerodrome to house the machine. The dimensions of this monoplane are: Overall length of wing spread 35 feet, length of fuselage 25 feet. A fully enclosed cabin, with seating for three passengers, is situated immediately at the rear of the engine. A fuller description will be given in this column later.

Three of the club's “A” pilots— Messrs G. C. Field, Maurice Field and Mr Brian Boys—have been putting in a lot of flying lately. Their flying hours (solo) will soon reach the 40 mark, which will qualify them for an endorsed “A” license.

Mr Dudley Newbigin has already qualified, being the first to do so.

» * » A few homely criticisms in regard to the inner workings of the club’s executive would not be amiss, and I trust the whole executive will sit up and take the nourishment in the proper spirit. Fifty per cent, of the management are content to sit, talk and do little, and seldom visit the aerodrome to see and understand for themselves. Another matter needing explanation is, why was the club’s paid official and servant elected to a seat on the executive when he would sit in any case ex officio, and in an advisory capacity? The club rule says nine members other than officers ex officio shall be elected annually. On the face of things, perhaps, there is not enough active members to elect from.

The Auckland Aero Club have recently decided to purchase the area they have been using for an aerodrome during the last two years. It is situated 15 miles from Auckland city and members are content with that distance. What it the Napier Club doing; are they still fostering the parochial spirit?

Fifteen miles is a similar distance from Napier to Hastings aerodrome, and this should not be a bar to the Napier Club members, even as a body, to join up with the H.B. and E.C. Aero Club, and thus take advantage of the flying facilities offered. Hastings welcomes you.

The record of Pilot L. J. Brain, of the Brisbane Flying School, in flying from Brisbane to Sydney and back to Brisbane in one day, still stands. His time of 3 hours 32 minutes from Brisbane to Sydney still remains unbroken. Here is a pilot with 4000 hours’ flying to his credit, also many commendable exploits.